Pauline Liu: They still don't get it about Common Core

Damage control. Those words may best describe last week's juggernaut in defense of embattled state Education Commissioner John King Jr. and the Common Core Learning Standards.

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By Pauline Liu

recordonline.com

By Pauline Liu

Posted Apr. 14, 2014 at 2:00 AM
Updated Apr 14, 2014 at 9:35 AM

By Pauline Liu

Posted Apr. 14, 2014 at 2:00 AM
Updated Apr 14, 2014 at 9:35 AM

» Social News

Damage control. Those words may best describe last week's juggernaut in defense of embattled state Education Commissioner John King Jr. and the Common Core Learning Standards.

King spoke up on his own behalf just days after he found himself on the receiving end of a "no confidence" vote by delegates for the state's largest teachers' union, the New York State United Teachers, which represents more than 600,000 teachers.

"I try to focus on outcomes for students and leave the ideology and politics aside," said King during a speech at NYU's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service in Manhattan last Thursday.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who also was at the event, criticized the "drama and noise" over high-stakes standardized testing and made it pretty clear that King is staying put.

King's speech was conciliatory at times, saying he understands he can't please everyone. He called for "civility and respect" as the public debate continues.

He has come under fire from not only New York's parents, educators and lawmakers, but an editorial in Los Angeles used the word "botched" in reference to New York's Common Core rollout.

In stepping up the damage control, the state Education Department has posted videos to its EngageNY.org website.

They show students in mostly middle-class school districts on Long Island and the Capital Region, giving ringing endorsements of the curriculum.

A coalition called Higher Achievement New York has mobilized in support of Common Core. In the midst of the current publicity blitz, I wonder if King really understands why "the noise" grew so loud and may continue to be deafening at times.

It's because many so-called "stakeholders" still don't feel as though they're being heard.

"With all of the rules that they have, and you have to do math a certain way, kids are under so much pressure, and they'll never get this time back," said Karen Edwards, a Washingtonville mom.

Some teachers in Newburgh can't understand why first-graders are being required to learn about locations in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq and Kuwait), when most 7-year-olds can't find their way through their own neighborhoods.

Matthew Whelan of Monroe wants to know why his fifth-grade son had to memorize the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights before he's even studied the U.S. Constitution in class.

In response to intense criticism, it made sense for the state Board of Regents to recently delay some its goals regarding Common Core testing and student data privacy.

The changes are a good start, but they've been a long time in coming. Many of those impacted have grown impatient.

While I understand that King and the state want to bolster their image, it would seem their energies would be better served if they spent more time addressing the growing complaints about the curriculum rather than posting videos.